SOLID 2.5% SILVER-PLATED LONG-GRAIN COPPER CONDUCTORS: Silver-Plated Copper always provides superior performance for video and digital audio. Unfortunately when used for full-range analog audio, the discontinuity of silver plating over copper causes high frequencies to sound edgy and harsh. However, when used only for subwoofer frequencies, Silver-Plated Copper's "artificial edge" actually enhances the articulation and intelligibility of low-frequency information. Do not use AudioQuest's Silver-Plated Copper subwoofer cables for full-range audio.

POLYETHYLENE AIR-TUBE INSULATION:Any solid material adjacent to a conductor is actually part of an imperfect circuit. Wire insulation and circuit board materials all absorb energy (loss). Some of this energy is stored and then released as distortion. All of Sub-1’s conductors use PE Air-Tube Insulation because air absorbs next to no energy, and Polyethylene is low-loss and has a benign distortion profile. PE Air-Tube Insulation causes much less of the out-of-focus effect common to other materials.

TRIPLE-BALANCED GEOMETRY: The three conductors in “Triple-Balanced” Sub-1 cables ensure that whether prepared with RCA or XLR plugs, the positive and negative signals have equally low-distortion conducting paths. The 100% coverage shield is never used as an inferior conductor.

COLD-WELD SYSTEM:This novel plug design enables a perfect heat-free connection between cable and plug. The connection between the plug and conductors is made using AQ's Cold-Weld System, which provides a superior connection that ensures that the structural integrity of the conductor is kept completely intact. The Cold-Weld System refers to a combination of high pressure at the point of contact and the use of copper- or silver-impregnated paste. XLR plugs are also available.

GROUNDING: Sometimes there is a hum problem unless the subwoofer and AV receiver (or surround-sound processor) are attached to each other using a separate wire. If your system has a hum problem, try attaching the little spade-lug tails to the metal chassis of the subwoofer amplifier and to the chassis of the sending component. Usually, this extra wire will not be needed.